Sunday, March 9, 2014

Family Letters - The War of 1812

My mother's family moved to the America's in about 1730, settling in Dansville, New York. The following text is from a letter to my great grandfather written in 1813 by a friend of his searching for farm land in Upstate New York. Letters in those days were handed from passerby to passerby who might be going in the direction of the letters destination. Included is a description of a skirmish with the British near Fort Niagara. Any italicized text is the contemporary georgaphy not included in the original letter.

New Town (Pennsylvania),
June 10,

1813

Mr. Abraham
Zerfass

Near
Dansville

Stuben
County

State of New
York

Dear Sir:

You will
please to excuse me for not writing more and giving you a more satisfactory
account of my journey – the reason is this, there is a gentleman going in
company with me and he is in a hurry, however I shall give you a sketch of it –
When I left you I saw some fine farms about 5 or 6 miles below you which pleased
me very much but whether they were for sale is more than I can tell for I did
not inquire. (Geneseo, New York) In
Big Tree there is a most beautiful country but by what I could understand, the
land there was not for sale, that is of the good land. From thence I proceeded
on my journey toward Buffalo but in all my march there did not find any land
that pleased me; however, there is a settlement of Dutch Pennsylvanians in the
Buffalo Valley and I believe very good land but by what I could learn it was
also high in price – as high as in Canaseraga where you live.

In the
village of Buffalo I staid about 2 days but saw nothing worthy of note but a
great number of Indians who flocked in from all quarters to receive their
Annuity. The Town was crowded with them of all Nations. They had collected
there and you could see the most different fashions. Some had rings in their
noses, some in their ears, and great chains thru them heavy enough for drawing
a saw log and hanging down on their shoulders in order to make them less
burdensome to their ears. You could hardly pass along on the street without
being interrupted by them. Some would sell their daughters for a little whiskey
or tobacco. I found, however, that they were more free with giving their wives
than their daughters. At first I did not like them but after I had got used to
them a little I had considerable fun with them. Get them about half drunk –
then you may amuse yourself with the capers they cut up which appear so
different from those that our drinking men do.

From there I
started down the line to Black Rock, from thence to the Niagara Falls from
thence to Lewiston and from thence to Fort Niagara where I staid until after the
engagement.

The next day
after the engagement I crossed over to Canada and saw the dead laying about on
the field as a parcel of sheep scattered about. There were about 30 of our
soldiers killed and about 110 or upwards of theirs. It was one of the most
wonderful things to me that there were not more lives lost on our side than
there were, for the British had all the chance in the World to cut them down like
dust. It is true that our soldiers did not give much time while they were
crossing to be shot at, as every one did their best to get over and as soon as
the boats had come near that the soldiers could reach bottom, they lept out and
ran ashore right under the shower of musket balls from the British who were on
the bank. As soon as a sufficient number of men had landed, they formed
immediately and ascended the bank, which was about 20 feet nearly
perpendicular, but then to see them scamper as hard as they could was really a
pleasing sight. And then to see their flag fall and ours put in place of theirs
was really pleasing amidst the multitude of shouts and acclimations of joy.

From thence
I started on my journey to return, and went on the Ridge Road to Genessee
Falls, but there was also nothing to be got to suit my mind. That will in time
be a place of great business, (Rochester,
New York) there is no doubt in the World with me – perhaps the greatest
trading place in this western country for there is such a handsome place for
mills, but the mill seats are all taken up there and there is no chance of any
more in that line.

From thence
I went to Geneva through the other German settlement and also inquired there
for Mr. Canel but could get no word of him until I had passed several miles by
when I happened to meet with a person who lived near him, but he told me that
the old man had taken down his sign, otherwise I should have gone back. He also
said that Mr. Canel had gone to see Dansville so I passed on my journey
homewards.

I had a good
journey until here and hope for a good one all the way. I am so far from being
suited that I shall hardly be up to see you very soon; however, if I do,
Canaseraga would I believe be my choice, for it is in my opinion the best land
that I saw in my whole tour. The Geneva or lake settlement or lands are not as
good as the land about Dansville, but it is a handsome country for grapes, but
not so good for corn. It is also good for wheat, more so than rye.

Excuse me
for not giving you a more full description of my journey for I am really in
haste. You may read this letter to Mr. John Hartman as I promised to write also
to him and it will perhaps serve in stead of another. I am sorry that I could
not spare more time to write to Mr. Hartman as he is a particular friend of
mine by whom I set much store. I intended to write 3 or 4 sheets full, but
can’t spare the time.

Please do
not forget to write every opportunity to me, as I would be very happy to hear
from you. Please do give my best respects to Mrs. Zerfass, George and his
sweetheart, not forgetting Mr. Hartman’s family. No more at present—

No comments:

Present Tense

Living in or worrying about the past, or about something once done that you could have done better is a useless endeavor - for no amount of energy can change the past. The future is still to unfold and may never be, and so waiting today in anticipation of something tomorrow is just as fruitless as is your lamenting the past. Our only time to truly live is in the present - this moment - and to do all that is doable.